Tag Archives: Alaska Airlines

In celebration of National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day, Alaska Airlines guests who wear their festive holiday sweaters to the airport on Friday, Dec. 21 can board their flight early. The one-day promotion will be celebrated by flyers and employees alike across Alaska’s 116-city network and includes all Alaska and Horizon Air flights. Festive holiday-themed boarding music and free holiday movies will play all month to help get guests into the holiday spirit.

Back by popular demand, this is the second year Alaska Airlines and its employees have embraced National Ugly Holiday Sweater Day, hoping to bring joy to travelers during the busy holiday travel season. All guests are invited to join in the celebration and share their memories on Twitter by tagging their photos and videos using the hashtags: #UglySweaterDay and #iFlyAlaska.

Airports are busier than ever in December. As a reminder, anyone traveling during the holidays is encouraged to arrive to the airport at least two hours before their flight given anticipated congestion at the airport. Learn our 8 tips to keep the “nice” in your holiday travel.

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Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced that the carrier will open sales on additional codeshare routes with Alaska Airlines. The new routes became effective on Monday, December 3. These new codeshare routes will be available from March 31, 2019 when JAL plans to launch its highly anticipated nonstop daily service between Seattle/Tacoma and Tokyo-Narita International Airport.

JAL and Alaska will now offer codeshare flights on 55 routes through Seattle/Tacoma, adding 19 new destinations to JAL`s network. Through the enhanced partnership, JAL and Alaska will serve a wide range of destinations in the U.S. and Canada, providing seamless connectivity through Seattle/Tacoma.

We understand there’s considerable damage being reported at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, due to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit this morning. There are no reports of any injuries to employees or guests at the airport.

As a precaution, Alaska Airlines is suspending operations at the airport until at least 12:30 p.m. Pacific (11:30 a.m. Alaska) to allow for a thorough safety assessment of the facility and infrastructure. We are pausing arrivals and departures in and out of Anchorage during this time.

Photo: Frank K./Wikipedia.

ANC issued this status report:

The airport is open. The arrivals and departures ramps are closed. The commercial curb where taxis and shuttles arrive is available, follow traffic control.

TSA is screening passengers. Check with your airline for current information.

The N/S Terminals have sustained some cosmetic damage. Water mains were ruptured. All elevators and escalators are out of service. Electrical Power is working, and backup generators are on standby.

If you live north of Seattle and throughout Snohomish County, we’re ready to make your day with some news you’ve probably been waiting to hear: We’re now selling tickets for 18 daily nonstop flights between Paine Field in Everett, Washington, and eight West Coast cities.

Say hello to Alaska flights at a more convenient, brand new airport terminal, and goodbye to a potentially much farther drive south to Sea-Tac Airport.

The first day of scheduled service is Feb. 11, 2019, subject to government approval. The all-jet service from Paine Field will be provided by Horizon Air flying the Embraer 175 aircraft featuring first class and premium class cabins.

We’re also excited to offer more options to our guests. We recently acquired five additional gate times at Paine Field, which would allow us to offer up to 18 daily nonstop departures in early 2019 upon receipt of required government approvals. This would mean more frequencies to several of the previously announced destinations: Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Orange County, California; Phoenix; Portland, Oregon; San Diego; San Francisco; and San Jose, California.

“We’re tremendously honored to be a part of this historic moment with the opening of a brand new commercial airport,” said Andrew Harrison, Alaska Airlines’ chief commercial officer. “Providing all new service from Paine Field and further expanding where we fly our guests, including from our Global Partners’ major international hubs, highlights the strong growth in our region and a thriving West Coast.”

To celebrate the start of ticket sales, we’re offering a two-day sale on fares to and from Paine Field, starting at low as $39 one-way*. And for all nonstop flights flown to and from Paine Field through March 31, 2019, Mileage Plan members will earn double miles after they register for a special promotion**.

After the initial start of service on Feb. 11, the planned daily flight frequencies will increase over the course of several weeks to ensure new operations are running smoothly. Here’s how that looks on our flight schedule:

Whether I’m traveling for business or pleasure, I look for ways to relax and enjoy my time in the air, which typically involves enjoying a cold craft beer and a snack. Lucky for me, Alaska Airlines’ beer menu offers nothing but craft beer. The company’s rotating West Coast brews – along with a new line of feel-good retail snacks – pleases a variety of palates with a range of choices.

When considering beer and snack options, I approach my decisions the same way whether on the ground or in the air. I peruse the beer menu, make my decision and then look for a snack to accompany the flavor attributes of my beer. As I whiz across the sky at cruising altitude, I want to feel like I’m relaxing at the local pub.

Fremont Lush IPA + Creative Snacks Trail Mix

New on the menu this week, Lush IPA (80 IBUs) from Seattle’s Fremont Brewing offers a true, authentic taste of the Northwest, which is to say it’s a hop-lovers dream. Brewed with hops from the Yakima Valley, the nation’s most productive hop-growing region, this beer has earned the adoration of beer fans in the Puget Sound region and was named Best IPA in Seattle Magazine’s 2018 Best of Beer Awards.

“I’m proud and excited that our hometown airline, Alaska, will offer Lush IPA to all passengers nationwide,” says Matt Lincecum, owner and brewmaster at Fremont Brewing. “I’m proud that our brewery was picked to represent our region and excited to share the wonder of our local farmers’ amazing hops and barley with every person that orders a Lush IPA on Alaska’s flights.”

“Lush IPA celebrates the ingenuity of the Northwest’s hop farmers. It features new-school tropical hop flavors with classic, piney hop flavors for a rich, lush sensory experience,” he continues.

According to Matt, the beer’s soft, well-rounded melon notes pair well with a wide variety of foods. Try it alongside the all-natural, GMO-free Creative Snacks Trail Mix and notice how the fruity character of the beer is accentuated by the cranberry and other fruit flavors in the snack.

Alaskan Brewing Kölsch + Luke’s Organic Potato Chips

I love a hoppy IPA, but sometimes I crave a light and refreshing beer, like the Kölsch (18 IBUs) from Alaskan Brewing Company, another of the current beer selections on the menu. This Alaskan rendition of a German classic beer style is brewed with glacier-fed water at the company’s facility in Juneau, Alaska. This bright, crisp and refreshing beer is designed to please just about every palate and fits into an active lifestyle.

Sip this one while you enjoy a bag of Luke’s Organic Potato Chips, noticing how the sea salt helps enliven the beer’s soft, cracker-like flavors.

“Because of its mild, easy-drinking character, this beer pairs well with just about any food; it accompanies all, but overpowers none,” says Andy Kline, communications manager at Alaskan Brewing.

“For two decades, people up here in Alaska have been pairing this beer with activities like salmon fishing, hiking and kayaking.”

Firestone Walker 805 Blonde Ale + Himalayan Gold Popcorn

If you’re looking for a beer with a little bit more body, but is still light and crisp, consider the 805 Blonde Ale (20 IBUs) from Firestone Walker Brewing of Paso Robles, California.

Subtle, sweet malt flavors balance with just a tiny touch of hop bitterness to makes this beer a great companion for the Himalayan Gold Popcorn’s vegan, dairy-free butter flavoring.

Firestone Walker Brewing says they created 805 Blonde Ale for the laid-back California lifestyle, but in recent years it has gained wider popularity up and down the West Coast.

Lagunitas 12th of Never Pale Ale + Krave Gourmet Beef Cuts

Speaking of a laid-back approach to life, the folks at Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, California have mastered the art. The brewery’s quirky, fun-loving attitude is expressed in its creative, always-tasty beers. The brewery’s 12th of Never Pale Ale (45 IBUs) is an exercise in balance, combining the yin of the hops with the yang of the malt. It is light, yet full bodied.
It is not quite as hop-forward as an IPA, but 12th of Never Pale Ale still packs plenty of aromatic, tropical hop flavor, which is counterbalanced by the grains.

The recipe includes some puffed wheat, which lends the beer a silky-smooth mouthfeel and helps it go down smooth and easy. Still, it is robust enough to stand up to the rich flavors of the all-natural Krave Gourmet Beef Cuts.

Dessert: Skinny Dipped Dark Chocolate Almonds

And for that sweet tooth? Alaska has you covered with Skinny Dipped Dark Chocolate Almonds.

From a super-hopped IPA to a crisp and mild Kölsch, with a Blonde Ale and a Pale Ale that sit right between those two extremes, Alaska Airlines’ beer selection has something for everyone. Have a beer and a snack, relax and enjoy some time at cruising altitude in your flying pub.

Flying Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft in the Last Frontier has its challenges: inclement weather, remote locations, the occasional seal or caribou occupying the runway. But with over 86 years of flying experience, we’re pretty adept at meeting challenges.

This is especially true when it comes to making sure our aircraft are maintained with a focus on safety and performance. To meet the rigors of flying in Alaska and beyond, we unveiled a brand new Maintenance and Engineering Facility in Anchorage, Alaska this week.

The $50 million state-of-the-art building more than doubles the size of our original ’50s-era hangar. The old hangar is also unable to accommodate the Next Generation aircraft currently flying in the state. This means maintenance and engineering (M&E) personnel have been forced to work outside in the elements for routine maintenance and repairs. The new facility, spanning 100,000 square feet, will be able to house two of our largest aircraft in a covered and controlled environment.

“Our existing facility has served us well for many years. But as we grow and add larger planes to our fleet, the time was right for us to upgrade our northernmost maintenance facility,” said Kurt Kinder, Alaska Airlines vice president of maintenance and engineering.

The new hangar is part of our “2020 Great Land Investment Plan,” an investment of over $100 million across the state of Alaska. This plan includes updating and, in some cases, expanding 11 airline-owned terminals as well as adding three 737-700 Next Generation freighter aircraft to our fleet, which will improve the ability to serve cargo customers’ needs with scheduled freighter service.

At the hangar’s grand opening, we presented a $50,000 check to Yuut Elitnaurviat for their new Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) School in Bethel, Alaska. This donation will help support the training of future aviation technicians, with the first cohort of students starting at the A&P school in February 2019.

“Alaska Airlines provides a vital and unique service in the state of Alaska, unlike any other place we fly,” said Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines regional vice president. “These improvements within the state allow us to better serve our communities, business partners and the people of Alaska for decades to come.”

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The new hangar is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified facility and designed to meet our fleet additions for the next 30-50 years. It will house over 80 employees, including those from M&E and Stores, and will become our new regional headquarters for the state of Alaska.

We’re the largest passenger carrier in Alaska with 126 peak season departures and 19 destinations throughout the state.

Fun facts

The new hangar measures 100,000 square feet, twice as big as the existing Anchorage maintenance hangar.

The new hangar will be able to house two Boeing 737-Max 9 aircraft, which will be the longest/widest planes in our fleet.

Built in 1954, our current Alaska hangar was originally owned by Northern Consolidated Airlines and designed to accommodate Douglas DC-3 aircraft.

Over 500 Alaskans built the new Maintenance and Engineering Hangar.

In addition to the Anchorage hangar, we have a maintenance hangar in Seattle.

When we announced we’d be flying out of Paine Field Snohomish County Airport in Everett, Washington, we heard your cheers. What you may not realize is how loudly we’re cheering with you – and why.

By offering new commercial service, subject to government approval, from the North Puget Sound region in early 2019, we’re returning to our roots. Flying out of Paine Field is a homecoming for Alaska Airlines.

In the late 1940s, we outgrew our home at Merrill Field in Anchorage as we added World War II surplus aircraft to our fleet. We needed a bigger base for charter flights, so airline President James Wooten made a deal with Boeing to house our operating headquarters at Paine Field – at the Boeing Service Center in the northwest corner of the airfield to be exact.

In 1953, we moved our corporate headquarters to downtown Seattle but kept a maintenance hangar at Paine Field. Snohomish County officials built a hangar for Alaska at the southern end of Paine Field three years later.

It wasn’t until 1963 that we moved our maintenance team to Sea-Tac airport. Since that time, the Paine Field hangars have been used by Paul Allen’s Aviation Flying Heritage Museum.

It’s Paine, not Pain

Paine Field was named after Topliff Olin Paine, a pilot for the postal service who grew up in Everett, attended the University of Washington and worked for the U.S. Forest Service before joining the Army during World War I.

Paine is famous for piloting his aircraft into areas that others thought impossible. In 1920, he was appointed as a pilot with the then experimental Air Mail Service. He was considered one of the top flyers for the Western Division of the Air Mail Service.

How’d it get there?

Paine Field Snohomish County Airport was built in 1936. Intended to be a large commercial airport, it instead became a base for military operations during World War II and then the Korean War.

In 1966, Boeing took over the airport to build the plant for its 747 operations (the 747’s maiden flight was in 1969). Boeing still occupies the airport as well as other businesses including Aviation Technical Services, one of our maintenance vendors.